Cup mouthpiece for musical wind instruments



Jan. 26, 1932.- LUNOW cup MOUTHPIECE FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed May 18, 1931 Em1j0a 44395121145000 I! MMMZJ Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES ARTHUR A. LUNOW, OF SILVER LAKE, MINNESOTA CUP MOUTHPIECE FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Application filed May 18,

My invention provides an improvement in cup mouthpieces for brass instruments such as cornets and the larger brass instruments of the type wherein cup mouthpieces are employed. In the playing of these instruments, as is well known, the upper and lower lips are pressed against the mouthpiece and in the production of different notes, the upper lip is held quite fixed against the mouthpiece while the lower lip must move inward and outward toward the axis of the mouthpiece. As the higher notes are produced, the lower lip is moved inward toward the upper lip to contract the air passage between the lips and as lower notes are produced, the lower lip moves outward away from the upper lip V to relax and enlarge the air passage between the lips. Moreover, in tone production, there is more or less continuous vibration of the lower lip which causes or should cause a movement of the lower lip on the mouthpiece. My invention provides an anti-friction bearing in the form of a roller for engagement with the lower lip whereby the friction between the lower lip and the mouthpiece is reduced to a minimum and the lower lip is given freer action both for the production of different notes and for the production of better quality and greater ease in playing under all conditionsand throughout the range of the instrument.

The improved mouthpiece is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

I Fig. 1 is an end elevation looking into the cup end of the mouthpiece, some parts being broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The mouthpiece 3, generally speaking, is of the usual form except that its rim at one side is notched at 4, so as to leave a reduced edge 5 and spaced to receive an anti-friction roller 6 that is journaled on a fixed spindle 7 preferably formed by a wire section,-the projecting ends of which are set into and brazed, soldered or otherwise rigidly united with 50 notches formed in the outer edges of the rim 1931. Serial No. 538,108.

of the mouthpiece immediately adjacent to the notch 4;. In this way the roller is projected slightly above the plane of the face of the mouthpiece and radially outward therefrom and no part of the rim of the mouth piece projects beyond the said roller. This is the best arrangement but, of course, the roller can be otherwise journaled to the mouthpiece.

In the use of the mouthpiece, the lower lip will be pressed against the roller 6 and will lightly engage the reduced edge portion 5 of the mouthpiece. Obviously, when the lower lip is pressed against the roller, it will be very free for inward and outward, as well as slight vibratory movements, and this, in practice, has been found not only to make playing of the wind instrument an easier matter, but to make possible the production of better tone quality and more rapid and perfect execution. The invention can be applied to cup mouthpieces of wind instruments at a very small additional cost and, as already stated, has been found highly efficient for the various purposes had in view.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A cup mouthpiece for musical wind instruments having an anti-friction roller applied at one side thereof where it may be engaged by the lip of the player.

2. A cup mouthpiece for musical wind in struments having a reduced side and an antifriction roller journaled thereto closely adjacent the outer surface of said reduced side.

3. A cup mouthpiece for musical wind instruments having a notch formed in one side and in said notch an anti-friction roller that projects beyond the notch and beyond the rim of the mouthpiece.

4-. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said roller is journaled on a wire-like spindle, the ends of which project and are set into and rigidly united with the rim of the mouthpiece adjacent the said notch.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

ARTHUR A. LUNoW. 

